Combination nail polish remover and applicator bottle

ABSTRACT

A dual purpose fluid container for an integrated makeup kit, particularly an integrated nail makeup kit, wherein the nail polish, polish applicator brush, nail polish remover solvent, and nail polish remover pads are combined in a size and shape that is easily carried in a modestly sized purse or handbag, but which can quickly and easily be separated into a conventional nail polish applicator bottle with brush, and a jar containing a plurality of nail polish remover pads saturated with solvent. When separated, each of the bottle and jar can rest on a flat surface, or be readily held in one&#39;s hand, such that each can be used independently of the other, in any sequence or order, without danger of spillage or mutual contamination. In one embodiment, a removable cover is positionable to separate the nail polish remover pads from external environments, including the nail polish applicator bottle when the bottle and jar are attached.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/035,204, filed Jan. 13, 2005, the contents of which areherein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to personal makeup products, and inparticular, to an improved nail polish applicator.

For many years women have purchased bottles of nail polish having a capwith brush wand, which enables them to colorize their nails in theconvenience of their homes while also permitting them to take the bottlewith them it in a purse or the like, for touch up as needed whileoutside the home. However, the proper application of nail polish forachieving a smooth, glossy finish, requires that all polish previouslyapplied to the nails be fully removed. While at home, a woman willtypically have a separate bottle of nail polish removing solvent andabrasive pads for this purpose.

Whereas carrying a nail polish bottle in a purse for touch up does notrepresent a significant inconvenience, having only the nail polishavailable for use outside the home limits the circumstances under whichthe polish can be effectively applied outside the home. Most women wouldnot go to the trouble of placing a nail polish bottle, a polish removerbottle, and a package of removal pads into what in current times isfrequently a very modestly sized purse.

For many women, especially those who are outside the home for longperiods during the day and must look their best throughout the day, themaintenance of perfectly defined, smooth, shiny nail coloring is anongoing nuisance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, to provide a dualpurpose fluid container for an integrated makeup kit, particularly anintegrated nail makeup kit, wherein the nail polish, polish applicatorbrush, nail polish remover solvent, and nail polish remover pads arecombined in a size and shape that is easily carried in a modestly sizedpurse or handbag, but which can quickly and easily be separated into aconventional nail polish applicator bottle with brush, and a jarcontaining a plurality of nail polish remover pads saturated withsolvent.

When separated, each of the bottle and jar can rest on a flat surface,or be readily held in one's hand, such that each can be usedindependently of the other, in any sequence or order, without danger ofspillage or mutual contamination.

In another embodiment of the disclosed dual purpose fluid container, afluid impermeable removable cover is positionable between the saturatednail polish remover pads and the nail polish applicator bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in furtherdetail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the integrated, dual purpose bottle andmakeup kit, in the fully closed condition as would be carried in a handbag or the like;

FIG. 2 is a section view of the integrated dual purpose makeup kit inthe fully closed condition corresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded section view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the separated bottles or jars each resting on a flatsurface that facilitates independent use;

FIG. 5 is a section view of another embodiment of the dual purposemakeup kit in the fully closed condition; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded section view of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4 show a dual purpose fluid container in the form of anintegrated nail makeup kit comprising an upper container 10 and a lowercontainer 12, which define an upper chamber 14 and a lower chamber 16,respectively. The upper container 10 would typically have a cylindricalsidewall 18 and a circular bottom wall 20 which fluidly isolates theupper chamber 14 and from the lower chamber 16. The lower end or base ofthe upper container 10 at bottom wall 20 preferably has a flange or rim22 with internal threads that mate with external threads on a neck 24that extends from an annular shoulder at the periphery of the upper endof the lower container 12.

The upper container 10 has an access aperture 26 formed as a borethrough an externally threaded neck 28 extending from the top wall. Inthe preferred product as marketed to consumers, the upper chamber 14 issubstantially filled with one form of makeup fluid 30, in particular,nail polish. The lower chamber 16 holds a different form of makeup thatwould be used in conjunction with the makeup in the upper chamber. Inparticular, the lower chamber holds a plurality of pads 36 saturatedwith any conventional solvent for nail polish. The lower container 12preferably has a substantially cylindrical sidewall 32 and flat circularbottom wall 34. The top need not have an upper wall, but rather ispreferably open. The bottom wall 20 of the upper container 10 completesthe encapsulation of the chamber 16 and thus maintains fluid isolationbetween chambers 14 and 16 when the upper and lower containers aresecured together at the threaded interface 22, 24.

Because the solvent in the lower chamber 16 is typically highlyvolatile, a secure seal should be formed at the confronting surfaces ofthe lower side of the wall 20 against the rim of the neck 24 of thelower container 12, or at the tight engagement of the threaded interface22, 24. For example, a resilient annular gasket or the like could beglued to the rim of the neck 28 of container 12, or the entire undersideof the bottom wall 20 could be formed of a resilient gasket material.Moreover, a resilient O-ring 33 could also be located at the confrontingsurfaces at the bottom of the rim 22 of the upper container 10 and theshoulder at the upper periphery of the lower container 12. One ofordinary skill in the art could readily design these confrontingcomponents in relation to the engagement of the threads to assure thatthe threads to not engage to the limit before the seal is effectuated.

The cap 38 has a cylindrical or substantially frustoconical handle 40that is partially hollow such that a stem or wand 42 extendslongitudinally from within the handle to a polish applicator brush orthe like 44. At the base of the handle 40, internal threads 46 areprovided at a diameter for engaging the external threads on neck 28, ina manner that is typical of conventional nail polish bottles.

As may be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, the threaded brush cap 38 isselectively attachable to the neck 28 for opening and closing theaperture 26. The brush 44 enters the chamber 14, which encloses a firstworking volume, when the cap is attached to the neck and is entirelyremoved from the first working volume when the cap is detached from theneck. The lower chamber 16 partially encloses a second working volumesuch that when the threads 22, 24 are engaged the top 48 of the lowerchamber 16 is closed by the bottom wall 20 of the upper chamber and whenthe threads are disengaged the lower container 12 separates from theupper container 10 whereby the second working volume is exposed throughthe open top 48. Clearly, whether the containers 10, 12 are securedtogether as in FIG. 1 or detached as in FIG. 3 or 4, the working volume14, 16 and thus the nail polish 30 and the polish remover pads 36 arealways isolated from each other.

It should be appreciated that the composite makeup kit, particularly thecombination of nail polish applicator bottle 10 and nail polish removaljar 12, can readily be grasped in the hands and detached from each otherfor use, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. FIG. 4 shows one subsequent step bywhich the user has placed the upper container or bottle 10 on a flatsurface for ready access to the brush cap 38 while the other containeror jar 12 for the saturated pads 36 is on the same flat surface nearby.The base of each container 10, 12 should be flat or effectively flat forthis purpose. Because the solvent that saturates the pads 36 isvolatile, the user may wish to remove one or two pads 36, and thenreassemble the containers 10, 12 before using the pads for removingpreviously applied polish from a portion of one nail, one entire nail,or all nails in the fingers of one hand. The cap 38 can then be removedfrom the upper container for applying polish while the pads 36 remain ina fluidly sealed environment.

It should also be appreciated that the number of nails from which polishcan be removed by the inventory of pads 36 in chamber 16, may differfrom the number of nails that can be polished by the inventory of polish30 in upper chamber 14. This difference would most likely occur becauseall the pads 36 would be utilized before all of the polish 30, or, dueto the volatility of the solvent, some of the pads would becomeineffective for removing polish. If the latter condition occurs, theuser at her convenience at home, could easily detach the upper and lowercontainers 10, 12 and pour solvent into chamber 16 through the open end48 thereby replenishing the effectiveness of the pads. Furthermore,replacement pads can be made available as an after market item, providedthey have the same area foot print as the cross section of the chamber16.

Although many configurations of the upper container 10 and lowercontainer 12 and their inter-engagement are within the scope of thepresent invention, in the preferred embodiment, the overall shape iscylindrical with a length of the composite bottle (without cap) ofapproximately 24 inches, and an outer diameter or equivalent crosssectional dimension between opposed walls in the range of about 1-2inches. The overall axial length of the upper container 10 and the lowercontainer 12 are about equal and in most instances would not differ bymore than a 60%-40% ratio. For an example with reference to FIG. 1, theoverall height h₁ of the lower bottle is preferably 1.0-1.5 inch, theoverall height h₂ of the upper bottle including cap is preferably2.0-2.5 inch, and the outer diameter d is about 1.5 inch. The crosssection would typically be circular, but other cross sectional shapessuch as oval, rectangular, or other polygon are also possible. It is notnecessary that the cross sectional shape of the upper and lowercontainers 10, 12 or working volumes 14, 16 be identical. As a practicalmatter, the diameter of chamber 16 or similar cross dimension of anon-circular chamber, should be large enough to receive a pad that islarge enough (e.g., at least ¾ in diameter) to be easily used forremoving previously applied polish.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict another embodiment of the dual purpose fluidcontainer kit. This embodiment also comprises an upper container 50defining an upper chamber 54, and a lower container 52 defining a lowerchamber 56. The upper container 50 and lower container 52 can be formedgenerally identical to the upper and lower containers, 10 and 12, in thepreviously disclosed embodiments. Preferably, the lower end or base ofthe upper container 50 at the bottom wall 58 has an externally threadedrim 60 configured to mate with the internal threads on the neck 62 ofthe lower container 52. Preferably, both of the upper and lower bottomwalls, 58 and 59, are effectively flat.

As in the previous embodiments, the upper container 50 has an accessaperture 64 formed as a bore through an externally threaded neck 66extending from the top wall 68. The upper chamber is configured toreceive a longitudinally extending applicator wand attached to afrustoconical handle (represented collectively as reference numeral 78in FIG. 6). Preferably, the upper chamber 54 holds makeup, such as nailpolish, and the lower chamber 56 holds a plurality of pads 68 saturatedwith nail polish solvent.

Unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, this embodiment has a removableimpermeable cover 70 that is positionable within the inner boundaries ofthe lower container side wall 74. The cover 70 is a fluid-impermeableunit that is configured to isolate the pads and solvent in the lowerchamber 52 from the external environment, including the bottom wall 58of the upper container when the container kit is in the closed condition(FIG. 5). The cover 70 is generally circular and defines an outer radialedge and top and bottom surfaces. The top surface is preferably fit witha manually gripable dome shaped handle 76. As depicted, the outer radialedge of the cover 70 comprises a pair of flexible lips 72. Thus, whenengaged, the cup seal isolates the solvent and pads from the externalenvironment, including the outer surface of the bottom wall 58.

In an alternate embodiment, the lips can be configured to engage anO-ring or like unit to enhance the isolation between the pads and theouter environment (not shown). When the cup seal 70 is positioned withinthe lower cavity 56 above the pads 68, the O-ring is compressed by theside wall 74, resulting in effective pressure on the inner surface ofthe side wall 74.

Similar to the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment, a user can detach the nail polishapplicator bottle 50 and nail polish removal jar 52. Due to theeffective flatness of the respective bottom walls, 58 and 59, theapplicator bottle and nail polish removal jar can each be placed on arelatively flat surface, such as a tabletop, for use. A user can gripthe handle 76 and lift the cover 70 to expose the pads 68, remove a pad,and then replace the cover within the lower cavity above the pads,re-sealing the pads and solvent from the open air.

The cover 70 prevents nail polish removing solvent that is present inthe lower chamber 56 from depositing on the bottom surface of the uppercontainer 50 when the kit is in the closed condition. Accidental damageof a tabletop or like furniture with finish-removing solvent during useof the makeup kit is therefore avoided. Additionally, the cover 70reduces or prevents evaporation of the typically highly volatile solventwhile the kit is in use without requiring the user to re-attach theupper and lower chambers.

1. An integrated nail makeup kit comprising: an upper container defininga single upper chamber, a lower container selectively attached to theupper container and defining a single lower chamber that is fluidlyisolated from the upper chamber whether the containers are attached ordetached, each of the upper and lower containers having a substantiallyflat base; wherein the upper container has an access aperture to theupper chamber and the upper chamber is substantially filled with nailpolish; wherein the lower chamber holds a plurality of stacked,substantially flat pads saturated with solvent for nail polish; athreaded cap having a brush wand extending into the upper chamber andselectively attachable to the upper container at the aperture foropening and closing the aperture; and a removable cover configured togenerally fluidly seal the entire upper container base from the solventwhen the sealing element is disposed between the upper container baseand the substantially flat pads; wherein the upper container and lowercontainer when attached together can be placed self standing with thebase of the lower container on a flat surface, and upon selectivedetachment of the lower container from the upper container andsubsequent removal of the cover from its position relative to the pads,the pads in the second chamber are directly accessible for removal, theupper container can be placed self-standing with its base on a flatsurface, and the lower container can be placed self-standing with itsbase on said flat surface.
 2. An integrated nail makeup kit comprising:an upper chamber defined by bottom, side, and top walls that enclose afirst working volume containing nail polish; a neck formed in the topwall, having exposed threads and defining an aperture into the upperchamber; a substantially flat base formed at the bottom wall, havingexposed threads; a threaded brush cap selectively attachable to thethreads in the neck for opening and closing the aperture and including awand with brush that enters the first working volume through theaperture when the cap is attached to the neck and is entirely removablefrom the first working volume when the cap is detached from the neck; alower chamber defined by a bottom wall including a substantially flatbase, and side walls and an open top that partially encloses a secondworking volume containing a plurality of fluidly saturated nail polishremover pads and a removable cover for separating the pads from theouter environment when the cover is positioned within the side walls ofthe lower chamber, wherein the top includes threads sized and shaped forselective engagement with the threads in the base of the upper chambersuch that when the threads are engaged the top of the lower chamber isclosed by the bottom wall of the upper chamber and when the threads aredisengaged the lower chamber separates from the upper chamber wherebythe removable cover is exposed, and upon selective removal of the cover,the second working volume is exposed for access to the pads through theopen top.
 3. The nail makeup kit of claim 2, wherein the sidewalls ofthe upper and lower chambers are each substantially cylindrical withsubstantially the same outer diameter, such that when the threads areengaged the sidewalls form a substantially continuous cylinder having auniform outer diameter and an axial height in the range of about 2-4inches; the lower chamber has a substantially uniform inner diameter;and said plurality of pads are disc shaped with a diameter closelyconforming to the inner diameter of the lower chamber.
 4. The nailmakeup kit of claim 3, wherein the outer diameter is in the range ofabout 1-2 inches, the pads have a diameter of at least about ¾ inch, andthe cap includes a handle having a length of at least about one inch anda smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the upper and lowerchambers.
 5. The nail makeup kit of claim 2, wherein the cover comprisesa generally circular solid body defining an outer radial edge, the outerradial edge having a pair of flexible rims.
 6. The nail makeup kit ofclaim 5, wherein the flexible rims engage an O-ring.
 7. The nail makeupkit of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a projection that isgripable by an individual.
 8. The nail makeup kit of claim 2, whereinthe cover fluidly seals the nail polish remover and pads from the outerenvironment when the sealing element is positioned within the side wallsof the lower chamber.
 9. An integrated makeup kit consisting essentiallyof: an upper chamber that encloses a first working volume of makeupfluid and has an access aperture; a threaded brush cap selectivelyattachable to the upper chamber about the aperture for opening andclosing the aperture and including a wand with brush that enters thefirst working volume through the aperture when the cap is attached tochamber and is entirely removable from the first working volume when thecap is detached from the chamber so that said makeup fluid can beapplied; a lower chamber having an open top and selectively attachableto the upper chamber opposite the access aperture, and defining a secondworking volume that is at all times fluidly isolated from the firstworking volume and contains a plurality of fluidly saturated pads forremoving said makeup fluid; whereby when the cap is attached to theupper chamber and the upper and lower chambers are attached to eachother the first and second working volumes are completely encapsulated;and. wherein the sidewalls of the upper and lower chambers are eachsubstantially cylindrical with substantially the same outer diameter,such that when the threads are engaged the sidewalls form asubstantially continuous cylinder having a uniform outer diameter and anaxial height; the lower chamber has a substantially uniform innerdiameter; said plurality of pads are disc shaped with a diameter closelyconforming to the inner diameter of the lower chamber; a sealing elementis located between the upper chamber and the lower chamber; and the capincludes an elongated, substantially cylindrical or frustoconical handlehaving a length of at least about one inch and smaller diameter than theouter diameter of the upper and lower chambers.
 10. A dual purposemakeup fluid container comprising: a single upper chamber defined bybottom, side, and top walls that enclose a first working volume; a neckformed in the top wall, having exposed threads and defining an apertureinto the upper chamber; a base formed at the bottom wall, having exposedthreads; a threaded brush cap selectively attachable to the threads inthe neck for opening and closing the aperture and including a wand withbrush that enters the first working volume through the aperture when thecap is attached to the neck and is entirely removable from the firstworking volume when the cap is detached from the neck; a single lowerchamber defined by bottom and side walls and an open top that partiallyencloses a second working volume; and a selectively removable coverpositionable within the lower chamber side walls to separate the secondworking volume and the external environment, wherein the lower chambertop includes threads sized and shaped for selective engagement with thethreads in the base of the upper chamber such that when the threads areengaged the top of the lower chamber is closed by the bottom wall of theupper chamber and when the threads are disengaged the lower chamberseparates from the upper chamber.
 11. The makeup fluid container ofclaim 10, wherein the cover comprises a solid base defining an outerradial edge, the outer radial edge having a pair of flexible rims. 12.The makeup fluid container of claim 11, wherein the flexible rims engagean O-ring.
 13. The makeup fluid container of claim 10, wherein the covercreates a fluid seal between the second working volume and the externalenvironment when the cover is positioned within the lower chamber sidewalls.
 14. The makeup fluid container of claim 10, wherein the coverelement is removable by an individual by gripping a portion of the coverand forcing the cover out of the lower chamber.
 15. The makeup fluidcontainer of claim 10, wherein the base of the upper chamber isexternally threaded and engaged with internal threads on the top of thelower chamber.
 16. The makeup fluid container of claim 10, wherein thebase formed at the lower wall of the upper chamber is substantially flatand the bottom wall of the lower chamber forms another substantiallyflat base such that the container and each of the upper and lowerchambers when separated from each other, can rest self-standing on aflat surface and the working volume of the lower chamber is directlyaccessible from above; the sidewalls of the upper and lower chambers areeach substantially cylindrical with substantially the same outerdiameter in the range of about 1-2 inches, such that when the threadsare engaged the sidewalls form a substantially continuous cylinderhaving a uniform outer diameter and an axial height in the range ofabout 2-4 inches; the cap includes an elongated, substantiallycylindrical or frustoconical handle having a length of at least aboutone inch and smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the upper andlower chambers; and the base of the upper chamber is threaded andengaged with internal on the top of the lower chamber.
 17. The makeupfluid container of claim 16, wherein the fluid chamber contains nailpolish fluid and the lower chamber contains a plurality of stacked,substantially disc-shaped pads saturated in nail polish remover fluid.